Friday, February 1, 2013

Grassroots Leadership ~ Teacher-Led Schools

Guest Blogger - Janesville Parker Teacher Stephen Strieker

Admittedly and proudly, I am a bit of a
populist. Grassroots efforts motivate me. My experience has been that schools
nurtured from the ground up are well rooted, empowering, and provide the
constancy most needed in our students’ often-erratic lives.

I
am encouraged by the School District of Janesville’s (SDJ) grassroots attempts
to plant and grow teachers in school leadership positions. At Parker High
School, students and staff have already benefited from the leadership and
service of our teacher leaders developing our Talented and Gifted (TAG)
services and Common-Based Assessments (CBAs). The leadership of these teachers
melds our staff as colleagues recognize these leaders are the ones most in tune
with students’ and teachers’ perspectives. These teacher leaders also remain
better connected to students and educators by staying in the professional
field.

The
extra prep period given to our teacher leaders in exchange for their service is
a worthwhile investment and a model for future leadership in our school
buildings. To no fault of overworked administrators, our high schools are in
need of more leadership services. I would love to see more investment in
teacher-led positions like deans of students, technology coordinators,
curriculum leaders, and, most importantly, student poverty coordinators.

Certainly,
the SDJ is considering adding needed leadership next school season. Our
district made some movement, but could do lots more in breaking free of
top-down management, fostering professional learning communities, creating a
culture of collaboration, and empowering teachers. My hope is district leaders
will look seriously at expanding teacher leadership in our schools.